adminwill only start billing the local authority when Zesa connects power to the dam. Water is being pumped from Mtshabezi using diesel-powered generators.
“The Mtshabezi project is still at a trial stage; therefore council will not be charged for the water that they are getting now. We will only start billing them when Zesa has connected power to Mtshabezi,” said Eng Muyambo.
Councillors had demanded that Zinwa set tariffs for water the city is extracting from Mtshabezi Dam to avoid altercations in future. Zinwa is the entity that is in charge of all bulk water sources in the country. Local authorities buy water from Zinwa. At a recent council meeting, councillors were concerned that when Zinwa finally announces the tariff, it would date it back to January and might be so high that the city would not afford to pay it. The latest council report confirmed that Zinwa was yet to set a charge for the water.
“Pumping from Mtshabezi commenced on 11 January 2013. To date the city has received a total of 85 680 cubic metres of water at an average of 1 904 cubic metres per day. This is still far below the target of 17 000 cubic metres which is expected to be attained once power is connected. Currently, Mtshabezi project is still on testing stage. Zinwa is yet to establish the tariff to use when charging council for this water,” read the report.
Clr James Sithole of Ward 7 called for a memorandum of understanding, detailing how the issue was to be dealt with.
“The water issue is a very serious one. We cannot afford to leave things to chance. This is a very scarce commodity, affecting the lives of everyone in Bulawayo. Water shortages have been worsened by global warming that has changed rainfall patterns and left us in this mess. We need an agreement to be worked out to avoid conflict,” said Clr Sithole.
Councillors agreed that the issue had to be taken up with Zinwa. Eng Muyambo said if Zinwa were to set a tariff now, it would be abnormally high because it would be based on diesel consumption by generators on site. At maximum operation, the generators guzzle a massive 2 170 litres of diesel daily.
“When power has been connected, we shall call council and discuss the tariff, which will then be payable starting from the day of reaching an agreement,” said Eng Muyambo.
Mtshabezi Dam has long been touted as a short term solution to Bulawayo’s perennial water problems.
Online Reporter